Thankful Sunday

 I am thankful for my library.

Recently, a friend asked Ward and me to join their Mahjong group. Neither of us had ever played before, so we weren't sure if we wanted to. And then, voila, we discovered that our library was giving beginner Mahjong lessons yesterday.*

So for the free Mahjong lessons (not to mention all of books, movies, etc.), I am thankful.

Until next time...

*We found the game complicated, and Ward's not sure if he wants to play again, but I want to learn more.

This and That

 I think it's time for a little speed blogging. 

So let's see. What's been happening around here lately? 

For the early part of the week, we had a heat wave with temperatures in the 90s. So each morning, we got up and out early to work outside before it got too hot. I have been continuing to plant flowers and veggies, and I think I have filled most of the beds and pots. Now, to keep everything watered until it becomes established. With the heat every day, that took a lot of watering.

Allium moly. This didn't need watering. It is well-established.

However, last night we had a storm and a cold front come through. I heard at exercise today that we are going to have 10 straight days of rain. I guess I don't have to worry about watering; I'll have to worry about things rotting. Once again, I'm glad that I'm not a farmer and at the mercy of the weather for my livelihood. I appreciate all the people who are.

I planted some old seeds I got at a seed swap. We'll see if any of them come up. They are all perennials, and I will move them around if I have any success.

And speaking of exercise, you may remember that one of my goals when I retired a year ago was to get more regular exercise. I reported on my progress here for a while as I was trying to establish routines. I am happy to report that I am still exercising about 4-5x/week, with a mix of aerobics, strength training, and stretching. I like the line dancing I do, but still consider the other things not fun. But I do like the social aspect of some of the classes. That makes up for some arduous exercises. 

There goes the timer. It's time to get up from the computer and move to a bigger screen--the TV and watch and old Doris Day and Cary Grant movie. A good wind-down to the evening.

Until next time...

Throwback Thursday

Looking back at my blog during the A-Z Challenge has inspired me to post more things from the past, so here goes my Throwback Thursday plan. Every Thursday, I plan to post something from the past that occurred the same week.

Today's post is a look back to 2011, when we got our first bird feeder. We have had many feeders over the years and many visitors. We have very much enjoyed watching them all. About a year ago, we added the Merlin App to our bird "watching," and that is bringing a new fun aspect to it all.

Presently, we have fewer birds at our feeder than we would like, but there are plenty of birds around enjoying what nature has to offer.

So without further ado, here is the blast from the past. 😀

*********************

May 21, 2011

Our Fine Feathered Friends

Recently, for Ward's birthday, we put up a bird feeder, suet feeder, and bird bath. He wanted to become a bird watcher---at least from our windows. We put out expensive seed and suet and waited for the birds to come. Slowly, but surely, they have been finding their way to our gourmet offering.

However, did I mention the whole family is severely lacking in our understanding of birds? Until the new feeder, I was the advanced one because I could identify both a cardinal and a robin. Ward could spot a blue jay, and Wally and Theodore knew a crow when they saw one. That was about the sum total of it. One time, my sister, a longtime birder, took me birdwatching. While she was saying, "Look at the white on the tip of the bird's wing," I was saying, “Which tree?”

After a couple of weeks of watching, we're very proud of our new knowledge. We can now tell you that house finches are our most frequent visitors, the male cardinal doesn't like sharing, and the feeder REALLY swings when a crow lands on it. We can also tell you that we have both pileated and downy woodpeckers enjoying the suet, but neither one seems to resemble Woody Woodpecker. We're still a little confused about all of the little brown and gray birds, but we think we have been visited by a black-capped chickadee, a white-breasted nuthatch, and a house sparrow.

We've also had the ubiquitous visitor to every bird feeder—the squirrel. So far, the “squirrel-proof” feeder is doing its job, but we are enjoying the squirrel's antics as it tries to eat from the suet feeder in all positions. So far, upside down seems to be the favorite. Perhaps it's trying to copy the woodpeckers.

Who knows what we will see next? Maybe it will be something exotic. I just hope that we will be able to recognize it when it comes.

A Footnote: Special thanks to the boys' Aunt Martha—the bird expert who has been a tremendous help in getting us started.

Thankful Sunday, May 17, 2026

 I am thankful for flowers and the memories they bring.

As I was walking around the yard yesterday, I realized that many of the flowers I saw have a special person associated with them. 

This rose bush was a retirement gift from a dear friend.

These Siberian irises are from our previous house. I gave some to a friend, and years later, when we moved, she gave me some back for my new house.

These irises came from my aunt's yard. 

These helibore came from a friend, whom I met at the library. 

These irises came from Ward's grandmother's yard.

This rhododendron was a gift in memory of my mother. It is West Virginia's state flower, and it blooms in what was her favorite color.

So for these beautiful flowers and the special memories they bring, I am thankful.

Until next time...

Throwback Thursday

 Remember Throwback Thursday, that was all over Facebook and Instagram a decade ago? Well, always one to be up with the trends, I thought I'd do it here. Looking back at my blog during the A-Z Challenge inspired me to do more of it. So the plan is to post something on Thursday from the same week in years past. Here goes the inaugural post. I didn't go back very far to find one that was published a year ago on May 11, 2025. That happened to be Mother's Day, and I posted about the origins of it.

Note: While searching for the first post, I found I did Throwback Thursday in 2016. I don't remember doing that. I guess this is a case where everything old is new again. 😀

************************

Sunday, May 11, 2025

Mother's Day

 Happy Mother's Day

 to everyone who has had a mother!

Growing up in West Virginia, I learned early that Mother's Day was started there by Anna Jarvis to honor her mother, Ann Jarvis.

Before I go any further, let me clarify the names because, if you're like me, you might get them confused. The mother, Ann Maria (Reeves) Jarvis, named her daughter Anna Maria Jarvis. So, Ann is the mother and Anna is the daughter, and I will refer to them as Ann R. (mother) and Anna (daughter).

We visited the house where Ann R. lived a few years ago.

Anna was born and grew up in Taylor County, West Virginia, where her mother was a social activist and deeply involved in her church. Ann R. advocated for mothers and formed Mother's Day Work Clubs to help women learn about sanitation and health care for their children. Ann R. also taught Sunday school, and during a prayer in one of her classes, she prayed that someone would create a day to commemorate mothers. That was in 1876 when Anna was 12 years old. 

Ann R. died in 1905, and at her gravesite, her daughter vowed to honor her mother by making Mother's Day happen. Anna started an extensive campaign during which she wrote letters to everyone she could think of across the country and met with anyone who would give her an audience. 

Anna Jarvis, circa 1909. (Library of Congress)

The first Mother's Day service was held in 1908 at Ann R.'s home church, St. Andrew's Methodist Episcopal Church, in Grafton, WV. Anna did not attend but sent 500 carnations, her mother's favorite flower, to all who attended. Later, Anna attended a service in Philadelphia, where she was living.

Anna continued to campaign tirelessly to make Mother's Day a national holiday, and Congress passed a law making it so in 1914. It is held on the second Sunday in May, the Sunday closest to Ann R.'s death.

But the story does not stop there. Businesses started cashing in on Mother's Day, and Anna spent the rest of her life fighting against this commercialization that she detested.

Even though the commercialization continues, I'd like to think that Anna would be happy that the day she fought so hard for is still being observed over 100 years later.

Happy Mother's Day!

Sources:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2024/05/11/anna-jarvis-mothers-day-founder/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_Jarvis